It was our first big argument. I was a boy of 20 from rural Illinois. She was slightly older and from West Virginia. When I didn’t pledge allegiance to the West Virginia flag, she made it clear that Mountaineers were very loyal to their state and she didn’t appreciate my disrespect.

We have now been married for 31 years, living in this wonderful state for 21 of them. I have apologized for not saying the pledge.

I love West Virginia. Among its strengths is our love of family. Unfortunately, the redefinition of marriage in West Virginia is closer than many think.

While we have a Defense of Marriage Act, activist judges can – and have – struck down such laws, as in Massachusetts, Connecticut and California. That is why 30 states have now put the definition of marriage – between one man and one woman – into their constitutions.

Some say that same-sex “marriage”never could come to the Mountain State. But, it would be easy for opponents of marriage to launch West Virginia into legal chaos and redefine marriage here. An adoption case concerning a same-sex couple already is in our courts.

Radical homosexual advocates easily could petition to have their “marriage” from another state recognized in West Virginia.

What is a pastor, like me, to do if I and my church are sued for refusing to perform a ceremony for two men? In this way, even religious freedom is at stake.